The Best Wines for Christmas Dinner

Looking for great wines to serve with Christmas dinner? Here are three great selections and several menu item suggestions to serve with them.

Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio - Italy

The Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio is an excellent choice for serving with Italian dishes that are so popular to make during Christmas and the holidays. Manicotti is an example of a dish that pairs nicely. This wine is pale-hued with a great nose and clean aftertaste. The Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio is one of the most well-known of the white wine varietals and can easily be found both in custom wine shops and in the wine section at local supermarkets.

This wine is also great paired with pasta dishes and with chicken. It is also a great choice for serving as an aperitif before dinner and served while tasting various cheeses and crudités.

Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot, Napa Valley - California

Pot Roasts made with a rich sauce and flavorful vegetables go well with Merlot, and the Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot is a great choice for this variety of wine. Medium-bodied yet full flavor, this goes well with pork roasts as well as grilled chicken.

Merlot is a great drinking wine that appeals to most people. Since it is more mellow than a Cabernet Sauvignon, it can be served with a variety foods and still be drunk on its own. The Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot comes from Napa Valley, where one of the strongest wine producing areas is located in California. This wine can be found at local wine shops and can be ordered by the wine specialists in the supermarket.

JL (Jean Louis) Chave, Hermitage Rouge - France

This excellent wine from the Rhone region is a perfect choice for the Christmas Roast Duck. The strong, rich flavors of the game bird go well with the full bodied wine from France. JL Chave is a family operated domaine producing rich and well-rounded wines, and the name is a well recognized one.

Red Hermitage will also go well with other game meats like pheasant and quail. The wine's earthy and long finish stand up well to the roasted game birds. Also try serving this wine with hearty vegetarian dishes made from wild mushrooms and grains. Woodear mushrooms and portabellas are great examples. Hermitage Rouge can be ordered from both wine shops and in the wine section of the supermarket.